Torque Settings for Alloy Wheels

[timlowden771]

I know this is a bit of a sad question, but I have just taken the mud flaps off of my Mini becasue the road works have finished down my road, and I was wondering if anyone knows the torque settings for the wheel bolts. I have the 16' 5 spoke alloys. Any help will be greatfully received?

[chiph]

Most passenger cars are 60 lb-ft (which I think is 80 N-m). This is easily acheived using the MINI-supplied wrench and applying your upper-body weight to the very end of the wrench. Most people are surprised at how little it actually takes to tighten them to spec.

Make sure mechanics don't use air wrenches to tighten your bolts, especially if you have the anti-theft wheel bolts. It may result in their having to be drilled off (happened to me on an earlier car).

Chip H.

[karmuze]

The torque number for lugnuts is basic owner's maintenance information that should be in the owner's manual for the car. I am disappointed that it is not there. For the VW Golf I owned that had 17mm bolts the recommended lugnut torque was 85 ft-lbs (115Nm). For my Volvo with 19mm bolts it was 90 ft-lbs (120Nm). What size are the wheel bolts on the MINI?
You could call your dealer and ask a mechanic to look up the proper number in the MINI maintenance manuals, to be sure.

[Apial]

Why don't you ask M***M*******Ad***r.

Oh well in case she doesn't know and is too busy selling MINIs the answer to your question is 105Nm or 75ftlb for alloy AND steel wheels.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Apial
the answer to your question is 105Nm or 75ftlb for alloy AND steel wheels.

I stand corrected as to the torque spec.

Chip H.

[ADO15]

Mind if I aske where these figures come from?

[Apial]

These figures came from my MINI dealer, however, if you look at page 128 of the Owners Handbook you will see the torque setting of 100 Nm for the compact spare wheel. Why the difference? No idea, but its only 5Nm difference. I do know that the mechanics always apply a lot more torque than 105 Nm as I need to apply a far higher torque to remove the wheel studs. Better safe than sorry I guess.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Apial
These figures came from my MINI dealer, however, if you look at page 128 of the Owners Handbook you will see the torque setting of 100 Nm for the compact spare wheel. Why the difference? No idea, but its only 5Nm difference. I do know that the mechanics always apply a lot more torque than 105 Nm as I need to apply a far higher torque to remove the wheel studs. Better safe than sorry I guess.

Well, to a point. If you over-torque the lug bolts unevenly you run the risk of warping the hubs, and in extreme cases you may never get the bolts off again (will need to be drilled off).

I was also going to say you'd have the joy of struggling with the wrench while changing a flat by the side of the road during a rainstorm... but with runflats (and no spare!) that's not likely to happen anymore.

Chip H.